Alternatives to Lily
- Lillemor
Origin:
ScandinaviaMeaning:
"little mother"Description:
Lillemor is a relatively recent coinage in Scandinavia, where it was most popular in the 1930s and '40s, especially in Sweden. As such, it is considered rather dated in Scandinavia, but it would certainly make a fresh choice for lovers of "Lily" names abroad — although the "Lil" in this case actually comes from lille "little".
- Lilium
Origin:
Flower name, LatinMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Lilium is the genus of the lily family and may make an interesting spin on Lillian, for those looking for something distinctive but familiar, wearable but with a touch of unexpected flair. Since the 2000s, a small handful of girls have been given this name in the US.
- Lillia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lilies"Description:
More than Lily yet less than Lillian, Lillia is a fresh and undeniably pretty member of the stylish genus of double (or in this case triple) l names. You can also spell it Lilia.
- Posy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a bunch of flowers"Description:
A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be seen as a more unusual possible alternative to Rosy or Josie.
- Galilea
Origin:
Feminine variation of Galileo, after "Galilee"Meaning:
"Galilee"Description:
Like the masculine form Galileo, Galilea is a variant of Galilee, a region in Northern Israel of great Biblical significance. Given the current popularity of soft Italian girls’ names, this name’s long historical roots, its beautiful sound and the potential for cute nicknames (Leia, Lil, Ally, etc) it’s no surprise that this name has been on the rise in recent years.
- Lizzie
Origin:
Diminutive of Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Lizzie was commonly used as an independent name in the last half of the nineteenth century. Today Lizzie is still one of the most stylish short forms of Elizabeth, but few U.S. parents put it on the birth certificate.
- Livvy
Origin:
English diminutive of Olivia, LatinMeaning:
"olive tree"Description:
Stylish, sweet, and bubbly, Livvy is a familiar short form of the popular Olivia, though it could easily work as a nickname to Olive, Lavinia, or Liv as well. In recent years, however, Livvy has been gaining attention as a standalone option, with 110 baby girls called "just" Livvy in the US in the latest stats.
- Lil
Origin:
Diminutive of Lillian and Lily, flower nameMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Spunky old vaudeville era nickname name suddenly sounds new again.
- Lolly
Origin:
Diminutive of Laura, Charlotte, Dolores, Ololade, or similarDescription:
Lolly is a sweet and playful nickname, usually used for Laura or Charlotte, though other full names could be Dolores, Ololade, Lauren, Lorelei, Lorena, Elodie, Ottilie, Louella, Elora, Elowen, Olive and beyond. Also spelled as Lollie (which featured in the US Top 1000 in the late 19th century, Lolly is still occasionally given as a stand-alone name, with more than 50 girls receiving the name since the 2000s.
- Lilo
Origin:
German, diminutive of Liselotte; HawaiianMeaning:
"generous one"Description:
Lilo is the name of the spunky little Hawaiian girl character in the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch-- and is also Lindsay Lohan's nickname. Multi-cultural, it can be found in Hawaiian, German and Hebrew nomenclature.
- Lilja
Origin:
Icelandic, Faroese, and Finnish variation of Lily; "lily"Meaning:
"lily"Description:
Cute and quirky Lily alternative.
- Lilis
Description:
Lilis is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be connected to Lilith from Hebrew mythology or function as a variation of the flower name Lily. In Indonesian and Malay traditions, Lilis can relate to words meaning "soft" or "gentle." The name carries a delicate, feminine quality with its soft sounds and floral associations. Though rare in Western countries, it has seen some usage in Southeast Asian nations. The brevity and melodic quality of Lilis make it accessible yet distinctive. The name might appeal to parents seeking something uncommon with cross-cultural appeal and a naturally sweet, gentle impression.
- Lilwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white lily"Description:
An unusual member of the "Lily" family of names, this one gives you the option for sweet vintage nickname Winnie, too. It's very unusual even in its native country, never given to more than 3 babies per year since naming records began in 1996.
- Lilouenn
Origin:
BretonMeaning:
"white lily"Description:
An elaboration of cute French nickname name Lilou, or the Breton form of Lilwen. An unusual and appealing Lily name.
- Lilika
Description:
Lilika is a charming feminine name with multiple cultural connections. It may be considered a diminutive form of names like Lily or Liliana, or it could be related to the Greek name Lilitka. In Fijian culture, Lilika relates to liliwa, a white flower. The name has a delicate, melodic quality with its repeating 'li' syllables. Lilika blends the popularity of flower-inspired names with a unique international flair, making it appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet feminine and approachable. While not widely used in English-speaking countries, the name has an intuitive pronunciation and spelling that makes it accessible. Lilika carries the gentle associations of the lily flower while its multicultural connections give it additional depth and character.
- Quill
Origin:
Irish, diminutive of Quillan or Quiller; also English word nameMeaning:
"lion, scribe, writer with a quill pen"Description:
Novel choice for the child of authors. Quill could be used to honor someone with a rhyming name, such as Jill, Bill, Phil, or Gil.
- Leelee
Origin:
Short form of LilianeMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Actress Leelee Sobieski's real name is Liliane, after her French grandmother -- a better choice for any baby-namer.
- Lilienne
Origin:
Variation of LillianMeaning:
"lily"Description:
If Vivian became Vivienne, why can't Lillian become Lilienne? This pretty name has that chic French ending, and is a fresh way to popular Lily.
- Ily
Origin:
Modern EnglishMeaning:
"I love you"Description:
This sweet little acronym, popularized in the age of texting, has established itself as a baby name. The similarity to Ivy, Isla and Riley/Miley has undoubtedly played a role.